In 1964, a Soviet MiG-19 shot down an unarmed American training plane over Germany

History
In 1964, a Soviet MiG-19 shot down an unarmed American training plane over Germany

At the height of the Cold War, a routine training mission ended in tragedy when a Soviet fighter jet intercepted and destroyed an unarmed American aircraft over East German territory.

On January 28, 1964, a United States Air Force T-39 Sabreliner crossed into East German airspace due to a navigational error during a training flight. Within minutes, a Soviet MiG-19 intercepted the unarmed plane and shot it down over the city of Erfurt, killing all three crew members on board.

There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.

Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 2-question quiz
Open in App

Get the full experience

Download Facts A Day